Todays Find: Big Daddy!

[BurntBear]

Today's Find: Big Daddy!

My partner discovered this piece today. We believe it is Topaz, rock crystal or some freak of nature. This piece is one of the strangest things either of us have ever seen. Looks like wax and feels like velvet.

Completely translucent-transparent.

The apparent "banding" are not bands of color but look like layers of transparency if that makes any sense.

2018 ct.!

 

[g-olden years]

Wow! Sure hope it's topaz! Even if not, it's a beaut! Congrats! Andi

 

[BurntBear]

 

[CoinandRelicMan]

Neat rock there for sure! Keep us updated on it =) Found what maybe quartz , head scratch, but looks like a chunk of raw beef almost and light will shine through, its a weird rock for sure =D

 

[BurntBear]

Thanks! It's going to the gemologist soon. Words can't describe how strange this thing is!

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Congrats neat looking piece! Hope it's high quality!

 

[CoinandRelicMan]

Hi BB , heres that rock that looks sorta like a raw beef chunk , opinions?

 

[BurntBear]

Looks like water-worn quartzite from the pic.

Here is a pic of some from the web:

 

[CoinandRelicMan]

Looks like water-worn quartzite from the pic.

Here is a pic of some from the web:

View attachment 1036131

Thanks BB =)

 

[BurntBear]

No problem. Looking forward to seeing the gemologist Thursday!

 

[antique man]

Could it be moonstone?

 

[BurntBear]

No, moonstone is a variety of the feldspar family which has a completely different crystal structure and growth.

 

[antique man]

Thanks BurntBear. I should have consulted my rock & gem books before I said that

 

[RelicMedic]

What type of terrain was it found in? I've seen crystals found on the beach created by a lightning strike super heating the salt in the sand.

 

[BurntBear]

In a creek bed. High altitude.

Here are a few shots of it wet. Well, somewhat wet. The water beads up.

 

[Plumbata]

That is a nice find, and is what I'd call a chalcedony nodule. It is primarily quartz, represented by the typical macro-crystalline zone in the center. The banded area surrounding the nucleus is also made of quartz, but it possesses a crypto (micro) crystalline structure and is often called chalcedony. It is the same stuff, generally speaking, that constitutes the vast majority by weight of banded agate specimens, with the colors of the latter formed by relatively small amounts of other minerals getting crystallized along with the quartz. It is cool, but not of any significant value or rarity, which will be confirmed upon consultation with anyone familiar with minerals.

 

[Ia.FurTrade]

Some type of agate?

 

[Ia.FurTrade]

Sorry, Plumbata, didn't see your post before mine.......